March 26, 2015

Apple Invents Smart Packaging that's Able to Set Up your New Device while Still in the Packaging at the Apple Store

On March 26, 2015, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals smart packaging that can assist in performing personalization of a new electronic device while still in the packaging at the Apple Store. Today, Apple Store reps will help a user set up their new devices if they so wish at the store. This new process will simply expedite this personalized service without removing the device from the packaging.

Apple's Patent Background

Electronic devices (such as smart phones, mobile computing devices, laptop computing devices, desktop computing devices, tablet computing devices, tablet computing devices, wearable devices, digital media players, and so on) are often personalized for one or more particular users. Such personalization may include loading of files, configuration of user accounts, configuration of user interfaces, installation of applications, configuration of user accounts, and any other such configuration of an electronic device for use by a user.

However, personalization of a newly obtained electronic device may be burdensome and/or complicated for a user. A user may need to remove a newly obtained electronic device from the packaging in which it was obtained, power on the electronic device, and perform a variety of operations to personalize the device.

Apple Invents Smart Packaging

Apple invention relates to systems and methods for personalization of devices while packaged. Discovery information may be exchanged between a packaged device and a user device. A communication connection may be configured between the packaged device and the user device. Data may be obtained at the packaged device related to the communication connection. The packaged device may be personalized utilizing the data.

In various implementations, a method for personalization of devices while packaged may include: exchanging discovery information between a packaged device and a user device; configuring a communication connection between the packaged device and the user device; obtaining data at the packaged device related to the communication connection; and personalizing the packaged device utilizing the data.

Apple's patentFIG. 1 noted above is an isometric view of a system for personalization of devices while packaged; FIG. 3 is a method diagram illustrating a method for personalization of devices while packaged.

Although the packaged electronic device #102 noted above is illustrated as a tablet computing device and the user electronic device 103 is illustrated as a smart phone, it is understood that this is an example.

In various implementations, the packaged electronic device and/or the user electronic device may be any kind of electronic device. Such electronic devices may include, but are not limited to a smartphone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile computer, a wearable device, a digital media player, a display, a router, a networking component, a speaker, a set top box, a digital media server, and/or any other kind of electronic device.

Just "Tap Here"

According to Apple, the packaging includes a "tap here" label as noted in FIG. 1 that indicates that the user should tap the user electronic device to the label. Tapping the user electronic device to the label may bring the packaged electronic device and the user electronic device into sufficient proximity for discovery information to be exchanged.

In one or more implementations, the packaged device may include a variety of power modes. Such power modes may include an "off" power mode wherein the packaged device does not utilize power, a "packaged" power mode that uses a limited amount of power in order to enable communications with the user device and/or the remote computing device(s) in order to personalize the packaged device while the packaged device is still at least partially contained within the packaging, and/or a "full" power mode that utilizes more power than the packaged power mode and provides normal use of the packaged electronic device for one or more users. In addition to such power modes, the packaged electronic device may include various power modes such as a "sleep" power mode and/or a "hibernate" power mode that enable the packaged device to not utilize the full power mode after having been utilized by a user but not currently being in use.

In some implementations, the packaged device may transmit one or more discovery messages while the packaged device is contained at least partially within the packaging. Such discovery messages may be transmitted while the packaged device is in the packaged power mode discussed above. In some cases, the discovery messages may be transmitted utilizing the communication component utilizing a low power communication method such as Bluetooth LE (low energy).

Data may be obtained at the packaged device related to the communication connection. Such data may be obtained from the user device 103 which could use iCloud information to set up the device. The packaged device may then be personalized utilizing such data.

For example, data such as one or more user accounts, files, configuration settings, user interface configurations, and so on may be obtained from the user device 103 noted In FIG. 1 above. In some cases, such data may be the data utilized in operation of the user device (such as a contact list utilized by the user device). However, in other cases such data may be one or more backups stored on the user device.

According to Apple, the packaged device may be removed from the packaging and utilized by a user. If the packaged device is removed from the packaging and utilized after having been personalized, the packaged device may provide a personalized experience for the user upon first use. For example, if the user's name is "Robert Paulson," the packaged device may display a message reading: "Hello, Robert" when first powered on for use by the user.

Patent Credits

Apple credits Brian Tucker as the sole inventor of patent application 20150089091 which was originally filed in Q3 2014. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.

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